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Food Security and Urban Agriculture in Stellenbosch: a Case Study of Policy Failure

Jansen van Vuuren, Elzeth (2016-03)

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.

Thesis

ENGLISH SUMMARY: The surface of the Earth is dominated by human activity placing pressure on biodiversity and its capacity to ensure a safe and stable environment for human food production. At this stage the Earth is dominated by human industry and agriculture in such a way that, for the first time in history, it has a dramatic impact on food security and biodiversity. Increasing pressure to produce more food and unstainable agricultural methods are placing pressure on the natural resources agriculture depends on. The reason for this conflict is as a result of unsustainable human population growth, lack of appropriate development, inappropriate sustainable policies, planning and greed.
Urban Agriculture offers a potential and viable tool to increase food security and biodiversity on a local scale. Urban Agriculture can increase sustainability and urban resilience by addressing complex challenges in a holistic manner. Stellenbosch was selected as a focus area for this case study since the challenges and dynamics are common to other areas in the Western Cape as well in South Africa. This paper motivates for Stellenbosch as a pilot area to determine what form of urban agriculture provides a holistic combination that increases food security and sustainability. This paper identifies key resources available within Stellenbosch to ensure such a projects success.
Policies have been critically analysed and local development plans were found to be inadequate and inappropriately focused. Local development plans do not focus on the critical issues, specifically food security, as informed by the Millennium Development Goals Report or the Sustainable Development Goals. These gaps are highlighted within the ambit of this thesis.
In this light, Stellenbosch is aiming and working towards a goal of becoming the greenest municipality and the innovation capital of South Africa. The findings in this thesis address the shortcomings and inadequacy of policy or the total lack thereof. The main aim is to analyse a variety of urban agriculture projects identifying similarities in order to formulate a solution to urban food crises and to move towards true sustainable innovation within an urban space.